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That’s a Civic?! Honda’s 2016 Coupe looks better than any econobox has a right to

Stephen Edelstein
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Hot on the heels of the redesigned Civic sedan’s arrival in showrooms, the 2016 Honda Civic coupe has debuted at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show. Like the 10th-generation sedan, the Civic coupe benefits from a new platform, engines, and tech, but adds a little extra style as well.

Styling is the major selling point of a coupe, and this one has plenty of it. The Civic coupe remains remarkably close to the well-received concept that debuted at the New York Auto Show earlier this year, with cab-rearward proportions and a fastback roofline. It’s longer, lower, and wider than the last Civic coupe, which is always a good recipe for a stylish automobile.

Besides the deletion of two doors, the coupe shares many design details with the Civic sedan, including a front fascia with Honda’s new corporate grille treatment. The coupe does ride one inch lower than the sedan, and has its own taillight design that connects the two C-shaped lights with a piece running across the rear deck lid.

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Powertrain offerings are the same as the sedan’s. That means base models get a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, while a 1.5-liter turbocharged four with 174 hp and 162 lb-ft is available as an upgrade. In the sedan, the 2.0-liter can be paired with a six-speed manual transmission or CVT automatic, while the CVT is mandatory with the 1.5-liter turbo. Expect that to be the case with the coupe as well.

Honda says the 2016 Civic coupe interior boasts 8.4 cubic feet of extra space compared to the outgoing model, likely a product of the new car’s slightly larger footprint. The seating position is also slightly lower than in the previous-generation coupe, for a sportier feel. Honda also tried to dress up this economy-car interior with a soft-touch instrument panel, real stitching on trim bits in higher-level models, and a smattering of LEDs.

The coupe also gets the same tech upgrades as the Civic sedan. The headline item is a new Android-based Display Audio system with 7.0-inch touchscreen display and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. A Garmin-developed navigation system is available on certain trim levels, along with the Honda Sensing bundle of electronic driver aids.

The 2016 Honda Civic coupe launches in March 2016 as the second body style in the 10th-generation Civic family. Honda will also offer a five-door hatchback in the U.S. at a later date, plus sporty Si and Type R models.

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Stephen Edelstein
Stephen Edelstein
Contributing Editor
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
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